mcleanscotland are local Scots who pride ourselves on showing you the nooks & crannies other tours companies pass on by. We can show you those hidden gems even Scots do not know! mcleanscotland of Perth tour company for vacations to Scotland here are our guides all Scottish for your satisfaction. The Maclean gathering 2007 what people said to mcleanscotland of Perth the tour company |
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THE CLAN MACLEAN GATHERING TOUR OF 2007 BY MCLEANSCOTLAND what people said ... starting with Paul. EDINBURGH weren't the pipe band brilliant! I saw many of the ladies getting pulled up to dance with the lads, they sat to dinner with many of you and had some fun. A quick comment from big Andy, our Drum Major; "They loved it! They weren't too sure what was going to happen but then they got into the spirit of it all and had a ball!" I hope you all enjoyed the pipes and drums of Denny & Dunipace Pipe Band. You all received supporters club certificates, please take a look at our piping pages and see how they do this year in competitions. 'Mon the Denny! PAUL.
Hi
Liz, First, I have to say
"thank you" again for the best trip
we've ever had! You are all so kind and
made the trip loads of fun: SANDY
ABRAMS, NY STATE.
We had a wonderful time and took
about 1500 pictures. Here is a link
where we posted some of those pictures
to share with everyone. Hi, Liz! I just wanted to thank you for a perfect trip. The attention to detail could not be surpassed! Everything was thought of for us. I especially want to thank you and Paul for the extra attention to Mom's special needs. We have had an experience a with guide (in New Orleans) who did not want to bother with the needs of the handicapped, and it was demeaning and it made our trip miserable. McLeanScotland, however, treated Mom like a queen, and we are both eternally grateful. We will never forget it! Please count me in on the next gathering tour. As I promised Paul, I will soon mail CD's of my photos to you. I'm working on it! Betsy Mclean.
Hey Liz--How
about this? Feedback? Well,
let's see.....absolutely fabulous
doesn't really cover it. Nor does
remarkably marvelous or wonderfully
stunning. The tour of Scotland we
enjoyed through McLean Scotland
Tours from June 20-24 was without
question, the best travel experience
our family has EVER experienced.
Since time would not allow us to
join this tour at its beginning, Liz
and Paul truly made us feel like
family as they carefully planned
every detail of our arrival to
ensure shuttle transportation,
lodging and ferry transfers ran
smoothly to ensure that we arrived
and joined the tour without
confusion or delay. My greatest
concern about this trip had been the
reaction of my two sons, ages 5 and
10. Thanks to Liz and Paul's person
touches, my children had a
once-in-a-lifetime experience that
they will never forget. McLean
Scotland worked diligently to make
this travel experience a personal
pinnacle of memory for my entire
family. I cannot stress enough the
difference that their personal and
detailed service made in ensuring
that we left Scotland with the
fondest of memories. They have our
sincere gratitude for organizingsuch
a memorable event, and I would never
dream of planning our next trip to
Scotland with any other travel
agency. Alison List
Fredericksburg, VA USA
BEST vacation of
my life - thanks for
everything. I'm boooooking first
now so I can get a front row coach
seat in 5 years! Later!
Shari Pearson Hi Liz - Thanks for arranging for the car to drive us to Edinburgh. We had a nice chat with your driver Brian along the way. The Caldonian is a gorgeous hotel and no worries, they put us in a lovely two room king suite. We have windows that look directly across at the castle. Thanks again for all of your help and guidance. We'll keep you posted on our trip here.Cheers, Diane See photos from diane and Nick Howdy, Please
accept this as authorization to
release my e-mail address to all &
sundry. Had a grand time, but we are
still getting caught up on sleep!
Kathie figured that we had been up
for 26 straight hours before we got
home ( 3 AM EDT),. with only a few
catnaps on the planes. I'm working
on categorizing our pictures so I
can send them to Bob Maclean for his
website. I have most of the
subdirectories/folders ready, but
need to do the xfers with Kathie
watching. I doubt we have any
prize-winners, but you are free to
use any you wish. I missed my last
hug from you, Liz, so I hereby
request your hubby to give you a
big one for me. Paul, I hope you can
get over for Stone Mtn, but if not,
please send me a few business cards
before January, when we start the
Florida Games. Slainte, Hi Liz and Paul, sorry for the delay in getting back to you, but I wanted to have some pictures ready for you. First and foremost, Michelle and I want to thank you both (again !) for an absolutely outstanding time in Scotland with you. We were so appreciative of your hospitality, it was everything we could have imagined and so much more. We didn't feel like guests, we felt like part of your (extended) family !!!On our drive from Glasgow to Oban, we couldn't stop ourselves from ''oooing'' and ''aaawing'' for the whole drive. The views are so amazing, what a country!!! Our welcome on Mull was excellent. We were a little afraid that we may be on our own during our stay, but both of you made us feel right at home and your guests on the coach tour were a great help in putting us at ease. The Isle of Mull hotel was beautiful, and James (the young jack-of-all-trades:bartender, waiter, joke teller) was a great help to Michelle and I. The Birds of Prey demonstration was fantastic and educational (who new education could be fun!). And what a great welcome with the Whisky tasting for our first night. That really put me at ease. Peter was very knowledgeable about the scotches and it certainly was very kind of him to let me take a (HUGE !) sample back for Stuart. What a great group to spend an evening with and enjoy some fine whiskies. Mull is beautiful island to see, even though the road (no plural there) was a bit narrow at times. Nice Paul. I hardly got to see the scenery I was concentrating on the road so much!!!! The McLean Gathering was a lot of fun. Michelle and I loved touring the castle and getting a little history of the place from The Chief and from other McLean's who have been to the gathering before. We even spent more time at the castle than we thought we were because we enjoyed it so much. But maybe they could use a caber tossing here and there. The hardest part of our trip was the farewell dinner in Glasgow (once again thank you, it was great). It was hard for us to say goodbye to both of you since you made us feel so welcome during our stay. Michelle and I are both glad that we can stay in touch with you. And Paul, great news that you will be able to visit in October !!! We'll also keep up to date with Stuart about your itinerary. Michelle & Matt. Canada Liz and Paul, Mark and I arrived back in the states just fine and our flight was a little ahead of schedule...if you can believe that! Scotland was absolutely gorgeous and we enjoyed every minute of our trip......well, okay...maybe not the midges...they apparently set up camp under Mark's kilt a few times. I think that I actually saw him do the Highland Fling a time or two and he's never had a lesson..... You, Paul and Colin made this a very special trip for us. There was attention to every detail and it showed throughout our trip. The special touches like the Denny and Dunipace band members sitting at our tables and the fantastic trip to the North of Scotland made this so much more than just a "coach tour". Your hospitality is unmatched! I think that I can honestly say that the Gathering was not the highlight of the trip, but I will address that with Donald. Lots of improvements could be made there! We did love Mull and Duart Castle, however. The special side trip to see Moy Castle meant a lot to me personally, although Mark does not consider himself to be a MacLaine. Thank you so much for taking the time to ensure that we got to see it...I look forward to seeing it again upon completion of the renovation. Thanks again for the wonderful trip and all that you did for us. You are not just a travel agency to us, we consider you family and good friends. Count us in for 2012! We will not hesitate to recommend you to family and friends for your Scottish and Irish tours. I think that my friend David Pickens with Clan Cunningham is already discussing a trip with Paul. I will be seeing him next weekend at Grandfather Mountain and will let him know what a great time that we had! Talk to you soon, Julie and Mark Lane Liz, Laura and I had a terrific time on the tour. We definitely got our money's worth, and more! The tour far exceeded our expectations. (You can quote me on that). Best features of the tour: Mull, Iona, Staffa, Ballachulish, Glencoe, Rosslyn Chapel, Ullapool, Eilean Donan, St Conan's Kirk, Kilmartin. I do wish we had more time at Eilean Donan (at least 2 hrs needed there), Inverness, and Oban. Personally, I'm sad to have missed exploring Tobermory. The only negative comment is about the restaurant staff at Nethy Bridge, and you already know about that. Colin is an absolute treasure: simply the best. We will heartily recommend to all our friends and family to use McLeanScotland for their visits. You and Paul went above and beyond our expectations. Aye, Patrick+ Liz: Just a word to let you know Betty and I thoroughly enjoyed the tour. It was a lifetime experience for us. We did have a great time on Saturday night so my goodbye kiss in Glasgow was final. Not much chance Betty and I will come along in 2012. I'll be 83 by then and maybe getting a little old. Let's just say you made our one tour with you and Paul a memorable one. As an aside Paul's assistance in getting us to the Edinburgh airport on Sunday was a lifesaver. Please tell him how much we appreciate you both. Best to you both always. Charlie and Betty P.S. Please talk a little slower.
Liz--be prepared, I've
written a
novel...................WARNING:
The following testimonial
contains NO duck!
First, in all seriousness, I
must say, it was just about the
best vacation I have ever had.
It was my first coach tour type
vacation and I wasn't sure it
would be my cup of tea. I need
not have worried. From the very
first moment I met you, Liz, I
felt at ease. I just wish you
could have toured with us too.
And then with Paul and Colin,
the camaraderie was
instantaneous. I immediately
felt I had life long new
friends. The same could be said
for our fellow travelers. We
had a great mix of people and
now I know I have some new
friends there too. And then to
be looked after by Paul and
Colin on every stop and felt our
requests or input was listened
to and taken, made it feel like
a homey family vacation.
(Granted a really big family
vacation.) And Colin's
narrations and driving made the
trip. He is amazing and a real
jewel. All three of you go so
far out of your way to be
helpful, to look after our
needs, to keep us safe, and by
golly to have FUN with us. It
was a special time. And let's
not forget the real star of the
show.....Scotland itself. I
already loved Mull, but seeing
it from the family and community
aspect through Paul's and
through Colin's eyes made me
love it even more. I felt I was
not just a tourist - I belong to
Mull too. The still beauty and
wonder of Rosslyn Chapel will be
with me forever, as will the
magnificent grandeur and sadness
of Glen Coe. And what a treat to
see St. Conan's Kirk with it's
unique style. Listening to
Colin tell the story of the High
Road and the Low Road and then
listening to the beautiful
timeless song did bring tears.
But were they for the past or
because the tour was almost over
and we would all have to say
good bye too soon?
No,
I didn't have a good time-----I
had a GREAT time. Hey you lot did it excellent, you really try to please everyone which is a mighty task, hell you have me to put up with, nah all good. hope I wasnt too bad, I got a lot done as you know maybe those rellies from Scotland will come on tour ( more from home land, or are those like me who blood ties more than most in Scotland the worst to have on board, just joking.) All for sharing photos think I have a few aye Mmmmmmmmm quite a few really. Many thanks for everything, I am still not thinking too clear it may take awhile, now now don,t say that... " along while I reckon. "Any way I will be in touch again, with other stuff take care thanks for info about Glasgow airport and everyone safe. Cheers. Carol, Say hi to Colin from us, Carol & Ray New Zealand We had a great time and everything that you worked on was perfect. Thanks for all your hard work!! The Mull rescue birds program was wonderful. I think this would have been fabulous exposure for the program if it had been generally available to everyone there for Clan Maclean. The whiskey tasting was fun for those of our group that did it. You may not have known it, but we had a pro in our group - my son Bobby was voted three-years in a row the top bartender in Orlando, FL (in his more recent past). Melanie & Richard Cross
LIZ, I am attaching 6
photos from our Scotland
tour. We all had a wonderful
time and are very glad we
went on the tour. We
especially enjoyed the time
that we could get out and
wander around the
countryside. Since we don't
drink alcohol we weren't
into the drinking
get-togethers, BUT you did a
great job of having
alternate things for us to
do. If we do another
Scotland tour it would
definitely be with you and
we will recommend you to
others. We did okay with
changing hotels often but
agree that it would leave
more time for exploring if
staying in the same hotel
longer. There were some
things to see, such as
museums, that we didn't have
time or the right time of
day to explore. The museum
at Glencoe looked
interesting but was closed
when we found it. We agree
that having the "gathering"
at the beginning of the tour
might make the rest of the
tour more relaxing.
Maudean Neill and family Liz and Paul, We just got back from our fabulous adventure in Scotland. Thank you so very much for making it so wonderful. All the hotels and B&B's were great and all the hosts were very helpful and accommodating. We had a wonderful birthday dinner for my son at the Atholl Arms and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of our tour. The van was very comfortable and we had loads of room for all our bags and passengers, and gas mileage was excellent too! Again, I want to thank you for making this a seamlessly enjoyable holiday we all will remember as our best time in Scotland...we hated to leave!! Sincerely, June Kidd Dewar's expert; Peter Guthrie said of the gathering whisky night; " It was a pleasure! and thaks for all your hospitality, it was a very pleasant evening. I'm glad the McLean Gathering went so well - and well done to you and Liz for the great atmosphere you managed to get going." Peter Guthrie, Brand Experience Co-ordinator, Dewar's World of Whisky www.dewarsworldofwhisky.com From Ray Owens, our storyteller; "Hi Paul, a great night in Nethy Bridge, many thanks for asking me to come along, your guests were excellent, it was a pleasure to meet them all." A tail - end story to ray, he has just been asked to appear in three of the six half-hour TV shows. The show will be shown first on Scottish Television (STV) and has already been pre - sold to the History Channel as three one hour shows. He has been engaged as the Historical Consultant for the series and, together with the Director, co-writer. Well done Ray the Highlander!!! GLASGOW Both Liz and I had a great time with you all here, for the farewell dinner. Our piper made us proud and the night went well we felt. Those on our dinner table will have know this, but no one else; I bought Liz a bottle of white wine, it came along, she poured a glass and said "don't like that", so another bottle followed "that's not that good either", one more try. It arrived with both myself and the waiter thinking "this is it, hope this is ok". It was, she liked that one and gave a huge grin, bloomin eck, it was nearly £30! I drank one of the others and the table got the other. My bar bill that night was £130. She is lovely and my very best pal, but she is fussy on her wine! We stayed up late in the bar drinking with a certain group of you, ending in us toddling off early hours. I would like to thank the staff there for helping us out to make a good dinner. I hope you could all hear my garbled speech, it was hoisted on me by Liz.
To see a good website for our Mull photographer Phil, who took the wedding photos; www.philmcdermott.com Phil McDermott Photography - Commercial, Weddings and Landscape Photography ....................................................................
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